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Reviews from Thailand On Monday evening we got on a bus bound for Chiang Mai in the North of Thailand to do some trekking in the rainforest. We didn't know quite what to expect really, mosquitoes, spiders and elephants. We had no idea. We arrived in Chiang Mai at about 6am on Tuesday, caught up on a few hours sleep in the guesthouse and went to explore Chaing Mai on Tuesday, before the trekking began on Wednesday. We wondered through the city in the unbearable heat and found a bar, owned by an American called Tim. We bought some beers and played pool to escape the heat of the day. He was a dead nice guy who had come over from California to retire and set up a bar to pass the time. Up at about 8, shower and breakfast and we met our guide Rocky! He was a Thai guide and had been trekking for 6 years, spoke 4 languages and loved Thai boxing. He was our little star and had the best laugh going. We hopped in the back of a pickup and set off an hour and a half ride into the jungle. When we arrived the first thing we did was elephant riding. This was ok, but actually I thought quite cruel on the animals. There are however stunning creatures and fantastic to see up close. We also fed them with bananas which was very entertaining as we got covered in elephant snot. Afterwards we ate and started the trek proper. After rising to a cockerel meters outside our hut crowing at dawn we began the middle leg of the trek, and what we feared was the longest. Setting of after a breakfast of pancakes, at about 11.30 the sun was at full strength. It was hard going but the journey was shorter than expected, after about 90 minutes travel we stopped for lunch at a lagoon and had a swim. The noodles for lunch were wrapped in a banana leaf which felt quite cool and Rocky and his friend Chad carved us chopsticks from bamboo shots nearby with a knife. True trekking style. We had another swim and after another 40 minutes or so we arrived at our camp for the night, a lot sooner than expected. It was even more remote than before, at the base at a small fall there was no electricity whatsoever and not even a toilet. We settled in once again and then marveled at the beautiful surroundings. For dinner that night was a new experience. Leaving the camp, for the last time before we started heading back to civilization. The longest trek yet, after about 4 hours saw us arrive at another lagoon, so another swim was in order. An hour later we reached a small town where we ate lunch, and prepared ourselves for the final task of the trek. Rafting, 6 thick bamboo shoots made one raft, which was steered by one person standing at the front and one at the back. It was great as we all got a go to try steering down the river, which was at some points pretty fast flowing. Halfway down the river there was a group of school children on some kind of camp, all the boys had football shirts on, and most children had Man United or Liverpool shirts, no accounting for taste. We arrived back in Chinag Mai after a great journey back which involved standing on the tail of a pickup and trying to dry our clothes in the wind. Written by John Donalds. Ilford, Essex |
Chiang Mai
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